Politics

• Friday, September 15th 2017 - 07:12 UTC

  Brazil's Temer charged with obstruction of justice and racketeering

  

  Brazilian President Michel Temer was charged with obstruction of justice and racketeering on Thursday, according to a statement posted on the prosecutor general's office website, threatening to delay the government's economic reform agenda in Congress.

• Friday, September 15th 2017 - 07:00 UTC

  Falklands' Governor Phillips: “You decide how you wish to be governed, now and in the future”

  

  The new Governor of the Falkland Islands emphasized that he was in the Islands to work with, “the democratically elected representatives of the people”, and it was, “entirely proper that you (Falkland Islanders) decide how you wish to be governed, now and in the future.”

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 20:49 UTC

  Brazilian congress advances political reform to streamline parties; 28 have elected members

  

  Brazil's lower house of Congress has given initial approval to a bill to reduce the huge array of political parties that have made it hard to govern the country and contributed to corruption. The chamber voted 384-16 for the establishment of a minimum national vote threshold that parties must reach to get public funding and free radio and television time for their election campaigns. The requirement would be 1.5% of votes in 2018, rising to 3% in 2030.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 18:53 UTC

  Irish beef farmers warn that an EU/Mercosur deal is a “completely unacceptable”

  

  Pushing the European Union Mercosur deal is a “completely unacceptable”, according to Meat Industry Ireland’s (MII) director Cormac Healy. In a statement, Healy said that any progression and completion of the Mercosur trade deal will have negative effects on the EU beef market.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 18:09 UTC

  Major speech on Brexit from Theresa May in Florence on 22nd September

  

  Theresa May will travel to Florence to make a speech on Brexit in a move likely to be seen as a bid to break the deadlock in negotiations. The prime minister will give the speech on 22 September, days before Brexit negotiations resume in Brussels.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:52 UTC

  Extra funding (£1bn) promised to Northern Ireland needs Parliament approval

  

  Parliament will need to approve the provision of £1bn of extra funding for Northern Ireland, according to lawyers acting for the government. The money was negotiated by the DUP in June as part of its confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:44 UTC

  EU Withdrawal Bill faces 157 amendments, including from the Tories

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing a titanic battle over her flagship Brexit bill, after scores of amendments were tabled within hours of it passing its first parliamentary hurdle. A total of 157 amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, covering 59 pages, were published, including many from senior Conservative Europhiles.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:41 UTC

  Wales will not vote a Bill which means losing influence over areas of its control

  

  The Welsh Government has confirmed it will formally object to Theresa May's plan to transfer EU laws to the UK at the point of Brexit. First Minister Carwyn Jones said the bill “hijacked” powers that “rightfully” belonged in Wales.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:39 UTC

  Scottish government anticipates no consent motion to vote on EU Withdrawal Bill

  

  The Scottish government will not ask Holyrood to give consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill in its current form. Brexit minister Mike Russell told MSPs that the legislation posed a threat to the founding principles of devolution. The Scottish government said there will be no consent motion for MSPs to vote on “at this time”, and it will instead seek to amend the bill.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 17:36 UTC

  Two thirds of UK young people fearful of post-Brexit prospects

  

  More than two-thirds of young people in the UK have an “international outlook” and many fear for their prospects once the UK leaves the EU, says a report. Ipsos Mori questioned a representative group of almost 2,000 18 to 30-year-olds for a study by cross-party think tank Demos, for the British Council.